Automatic stoker.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

J. P. LUCKETT. AUTOMATIC STOKER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 15, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@Mmmm PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

J. P. LUGKETT.. AUTOMATIC STKER. APPLIGATION FILED 11017.15, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 837,858. v PATENTED DEG. 4, 1906. J. P. LUCKBTT. AUTOMATIC STOKER. APPLIUATION FILED Nov.15, 1902.

s suma-SHEET a.

JOHN PARKER LUGKETT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed November 15.1902. Serial No. 131,507.

T0 all wlw/0771, it ntrty con/cern:

Be LUGKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Stoker, of which the following is` a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automatic stokers, the object being to provide mechanical means whereby fuel is fed from a hopper through the magazine and distributed along the surface of the grate or grates located contiguous to the magazine.

One of. the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an automatic or mechanical stoker which will operate successfully without resorting to forced draft, the space occupied by the magazine and fuelfeeding mechanism being abundantly compensated for, so that the natural draft of the furnace is not in any way impaired by the presence of such magazine and fuel-feeding devices. While scribed is especially designed with reference to obtaining natural draft, it is to be understood that, should the exigencies of the case require, any suitable forced-draft appliances' may be associated with the stoker without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the fuelfeeding mechanism, and g articularly the magazine, whereby the oscil atory rockers or .conveyers are housed entirely within the magazine and all leakage of fuel through the bottom or floor of the magazine entirely overcome, the invention in this respect forming a modification of and improvement upon the construction illustrated, described, and claimed in my Patent No. 721,586, dated February 24, 1903., for an automatic stoker.

In addition to the combined uptakes and air-conduits described in my said other application the present invention contemp ates the use of series of side air-conduits which extend upward along the sides of the magazine and within the same and conduct the air in any desired quantity from the ash-pit or space beneath the magazine and grate upward to points adjacent the magazine, where such air is discharged it known that I, JOHN PARKEaj the stoker hereinafter de-l to the upper level of into the fuel just before it overflows upon the grate.

This invention also contemplates the use, in connection with oscillatory rockers or conveyers, of pushers or rams adapted to operate adjacent to the floor of the magazine and the uptakes to further assist in advancing the fuel along the magazine and in discharging the fuel upon the grate.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

Tn the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a magazine, illustrating the construction and arrangement of the fuel-feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical crosssection through the magazine and furnace on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing a modified arrangement of operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the oscillatory rockers or conveyers. Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the construction and arrangement of one of the vertical air-conduits. Fig.y 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1, showing a slight modification in the fuel-feeding lmechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively detail cross and longitudinal sections illustrating a modified arrangement of rocker or conveyer and magazine. Fig. 10 is a detail section illustrating the manner of lengthening and shortening the combined uptake and air-conduits. Fig. 11 is a detail vertical longitudinal section showing the manner of forming one of the semicylindrical cu s or pockets integrally with the floor of t e magazine.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Tn the accompanying drawings the automatic Stoker contemplated in this invention is shown applied to a fire-box of an ordinary horizontal oiler, the iire-box being comrised between the side walls 1, the rear end wall 2, and the front wall 3, the walls 1 and 2 being shown as conposed of masonry, while the front wall 3 is shown as consisting of a IOO cured thereto, as shown and above each of the cups or pockets 10, so

' through therocke conveyers are pivotall lthe connecting-rod 17 is 18, to enable the same to operate easily andlspect to the axis of `magaz1ne, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

metal plate, outside of which and in front of the furnace is arranged a hopper 4 to receive the supply of fuel. The magazine 5 is supported upon suitable ledges 6, preferably set in the masonry or Walls of the fire-box, said ledges also forming supports for the gratesections 7, which preferably incline downward from their inner adjacent edges toward their outer edges, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to secure a proper distribution of the fuel as it overiiows thereon from the magazine.

The magazine ycomprises the side walls 8 and a iioor or bottom 9, the forward portion of which is substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 1, and the rear portion of which is inclined upward toward the dead-grate, as Shown. The floor 9 of the magazine is provided at suitable intervals with semicylindrical cups or pockets 10, which pro'ect below the normallevel of the floor an which may be either formed separately from the floor and bolted, riveted, or otherwise' sein Fig. 1, or formed integrally therewith, as illustratedin Fig. 11. The oor or bottom 9 is cut away in line with as to receive and admit o the rocking movement of a series of oscillatory conveyers or rockers 11. prises a cylindrical surface 12 coaxial wlth its shaft, a fuel-pushing surface or shoulder 13, disposed somewhat tangentiall with removement of t e rocker, and-a comparatively small'rou'nded surface or shoulder 14l eccentric with respect to the shaft, which is offset from the bottom of the fuel-.pushing surface or shoulder 13.- For the sake of cheapness and lightness' each of the rockers or conveyers 11 is made hollow, as shown in Fig. .11and is mounted upon a shaft 15, which extends beyond the ends of the rocker and is journale'd in the side walls 8 of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 3. 'If desired, the axle 15 may be comlposed lsimply of trunnions projecting from t e ends of the rocker instead of passing the shaft entirely Theshaft 15 of each rocker is provided at one or each end with a lever-arm 16, and all of the lever-arms of the several rockers or connected with a common connectin -ro 17, as shown in Fi 1`, whereby all of t `e rockers may be simultaneously oscillated A ing the fuel at various points along the bottom of the magazine. Wherever necessary,

Without binding. The connecting-rod 17 is also operatively connected with the pendent lever-arm 19 ofthe 'dead-grate 20,- 'which is' mounted to oscillate at the rear end of the Anuptake consisting of an inclined plate 21 e Each rocker or conveyer 1 1 com- I for the purpose of' feed-` jointed, as shown at l may be pivotally connected to tends from the ioor of the magazine upward i to a point adjacent to the dead-grate 20, so as to direct the fuel thereon, as shown in Fig. 1.` Arranged at suitable intervals along the magazine and preferably between the several rockers or conveyers 11 are vwhat I term combined 'uptakes and air-conduits 22, similar to those described in my said Patent No. 721,586. These uptakes are inclined in a rearward direction and communicate with openings 23 in the bottom' or floor of the magazine, getting their supply of air from the space beneath the magazine. Vertical grates 24 cover the upperl discharge ends of said uptakes and are located immediately l above the rockers or conveyers arranged in advance thereof. By reference to Figs. 1 l and 6 it will be seen that the rear wall of each I uptake and air-conduit is arranged at a short distance from the concentric surface 12 of the adjacent rocker or conveyer, the object being to prevent the fuel from being pinched or jammed between the conveyer and the uptake, which would result 1n throwing considerable labor on the machine, causing it to work hard and requiring additional power to drive the machine.l By leaving said space I the fuel can easily free itself and the rockers or conveyers are permitted to oscillate with freedom. Each of the uptakes extends, preferably, entirely across the magazine and consists of arear plate 25, vhaving bosses or projections 26 to receive screws or other suitable fasteners 27, which pass through the forward plate 28.

Extending vertically Within the magazine with openings 30 in the floor of the magazine, said conduits extending upward to v,points near the top of the magazine, where they are beveled or inclined, as shown at 31, and each provided with an o ening 32, which is covered by a grate 33, liaving vertically-extending grate bars and openings, as shown. The side air-conduits 29 yare arranged at suitable intervals and provided in suitable numbers and serve to dischargeair into the fuel/prior to the overow of the fuel u sections. An additionalsupp y of air is also discharged into the fuel by means of a perforatedcap-rail 34, extending along the top vvedge of each of the side Walls of the furnace and provided with perforations or airorts in thetop and inner side thereof, air' eing supplied to each of the cap-rails 34 by meansof air-supply tothe cap-rai struction last in Fig. 3.

Instead of coupling the lever-arms 16 directly to the connecting-rod 17 said arms yokes 37, as shown in Fig. 3, the said yokes in turn being attached rigidly to the connecting-rod 17.

IOO

are side air-conduits 29, which communicate IOS onl the grate- .45, the pusher 44 operating in contact tion extending between The arrangement just describedenables the lever-arms 16 to be applied to both ends of the rocker-shafts 15, thus obviating any tendency to twist and break said shafts.

The combined uptakes and air-conduits 22 terminate below the normal level of fuel in ,the magazine and on the grate-sections; but in some instances it is desirable to lengthen or shorten said uptakes, and for that purpose each uptake may be made in sections, as illustrated in the detail view, Fig. 10, in which 38 designates a portion of the lower section, and 39 a portion of the upper section. The sections are provided at their meeting ends with overlapping portions 40 and 41, one of which is slotted, as shown at 42, to re,- ceive a, clamping bolt or screw 43. One or more of such clamping bolts or screws may be employed to fasten the meeting ends of vthe sections, and in this way the upper end of the combined uptake and air-conduit may be raised or lowered and properly adjusted, as may be found necessary.

in Fig. 6 1 have shown auxiliary feeding deviceslin the form of rams or pushers 44 and with and along the floor of the magazine, while the pusher 45 operates in contact with and. along the inclined`upper surface of the uptake 22. Each of the pushers is operated by means of a link 46 or' other suitable connecthe pusher and the rocker or conveyer in advance thereof, so that as the rockers or conveyers oscillate to feed the fuel forward the rams or pushers 44 and 45 are simultaneously reciprocated, thereby assisting in the fuel-feeding opera tion. The rams or pushers are held to reciprocate in right lines by means of Guides or brackets 47, secured to the sidewallls of the magazine and rojecting over flanges 48, extending laterail in Fig. 7.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a construction in whici the cups or pockets 1'0 may be dispensed with and the floor yor bottom 9 of the magazine made perfectly strai ht. 1n order to accom lish this, the "fsha t 15 of each rocker is coated a sufficient distance above the floor 9 to admit of the oscillatory movements of the rocker entirely above andclear of the fioor. The rear side of the adjacent uptake 22is provided with an extension 49, which is concaved, as shown at 50, to form a` seat against or adjacent to which the concentric surface. 12 of the rocker operates. The

concaved extension 49 serves as a cut-off to prevent the fuel from getting behind the rocker in .too great a quantity and ,also obviates the pinching or grinding of the fuel between the conveyer and the uptake. However, the construction illustrated in Figs. 1

and 6 is preferred, as space is economized by such arrangement.

y from the pushers, as shown l j It will be understood from the foregoing j description that the fuel passing downward l through the hopper 4 falls upon the primary i rocker or conveyer 11, which by preference is made somewhat larger than the succeeding rockers or conveyers. *As the primary rocker is oscillated the fuel is received thereon and fed j inward thereby toward the second rocker, and j soon, the auxiliary feeding devices, consisting l of the rams or pushers 44 and 45, assisting in j the operation. The fuel is thus forced along the magazine and upward over the uptakes j and` is thus subjected to the currents of air under natural draft passing voutward from the discharge ends of the combined uptakes and air-conduits 22. As the fuel banks up in the magazine and overflows upon the gratesections said fuel is further subjected to aircurrents under natural draft discharged from .the vertical side air-conduits and the perforated cap-rails 34. In this way the fuel is thoroughly coked and prepared for burning.

grate does not impair the natural draft of the furnace, for the reason that the loss of gratespace occupied by the magazine is fully compensated for by the draft appliances hereinabove particularly described. In fact, the effect of the draft is enhanced by reason of the fact that the air is introduced into the fuel at various points during the movement of the fuel along the magazine and 'while it is under agitation. it will also be seen that thc currents of air are introduced directly into thc body or mass of the fuel and at points preferably just beneath the top level of the fuel as it overflows from the magazine upon the l grate-sections. It will further be seen that the floor or bottom of the magazine is practically imperforate except for the openings g which lead to the air-conduits 22 and 29. Said openings are, however, covered and prol tected by the conduits arranged thereover, so that there is no possibility of aI leakage of fuel through the bottom or floor of the magazine, the; semicylindrical cups or pockets serving to catch any fuel and prevent the same from leaking downward into the ash-pit. Thus while the air is freely admitted through the bottom or oor of the magazine leakage of l fuel therethrough is entirely prevented. ln order to facilitate the forward movement of j the fuel and prevent the jamming of the same l against the side air-conduits 29, the latter are beveled or chamfered at their front and rcar edges, as shown at 51.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Fatent, is

1. An automatic underfed stoker comprising a magazine having a fioor with imperforate portions, oscillatory conveyers Working over the imperforate portions of the magazine-Hoor, and means for admitting air j The location of the magazine centrally of the l lOO zine having/a Hoor w` ywithin the magazine and under natural draft directly into the fuel c on-` tained in said magazine.v

2. An automatic underfed stokery comprising a magazine `extending along the grate and having a floor with an imperforate portion, and an oscillatory arcuate-faced feeder operating within the magazine entirely above the imperforate portion of said-floor and adjacent to the grate.

3. An automatic stoker comprising a niagath imperforate portions,

upward through the magazine-floor which is otherwise imperferate, and fuel-feeding conveyers operating within the magazine and above the imperforate iloor thereof, substantially as described,

t 4. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, the magazine, and fuel-feeding conveyers operati-ng within said cups or pockets.

5. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, segment-shaped cups or pockets formed in the iloor of the magazine, and oscillatory conveyers working within ,the said cups and the magazine, substantially as described.

6. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, semicylindrical cups or pockets connected with and extending below the main level of the magazine-floor, and oscillatory rockers or conveyers within the magazine andv working in said cups or pockets.

7. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine havinga floor with imperforate portions, a' series of combined uptakes and air-conduits leading upward from the Hoor of the magazine', and fuel-feeding conveyers interposed between the uptakes and operating above the imperforate portions of the magazine-floor.

8. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine having a Hoor with an imperforate portion, fuel-feeding conveyers operating within the magazine above the imperforate portion of the magazine-floor, and combined uptakes and \airccnduits leading upward from the air-conduits leading magazine-floor and terminating above theV conveyers.

9. An automatic stoker zine having a-iloorembodying an imperforate section, andan oscillatory conveyer mounted rate section of the magazine-floor and having a fuel-pushing shoulder which operates above the level of the conveyer-shaft, the shaft of said conveyer through the side ofthe magazine to receive the operating device, substantially as described. X

10. An automatic stoker comprising a ma azine having a licor embodying an impe orate section, an oscillatory conveyer mounted Within the magazine and Working Vabove the im erforate section cf the magazine-Hoor, and having. av fuel-pushing shoulescasas der which operates above the level of the conveyer-shaft, the shaft of said conveyer eX- tending through the side of the magazine, and a lever-arm connected with the extended shaft of the conveyer and arranged entirely' cups or pockets formed in the floor of comprising a magaabove the imperfo,

being extended laterally 12. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, an uptake therein, an osciliatory conveyer working therein, and a reciprocatory ram or pusher operatively connected vwith said conveyerand `working along the uptake.

'13. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, an oscillatory conveyer working therein, and a reci rocatory ram or pusher movable along the goor of the magazine and actuated bysaid conveyer.

14. An automatic stoker comprising a magazine, an oscillatory conveyer working therein, an inclined uptake, and a reciproca- ,tory ram or pusher operating in contact with lthe uptake and actuated by said conveyer.

15. An automaticy stoker comprising a magazine in which the fuel is fed len thwise of said magazine, fuel-feeding mec ianism and a series of upstanding side air-conduits at intervals along the side walls of the magazine and extending from the floor of the magazine upward' to points adjacent to the level of the top of the magazine, the fore and aft portions of said conduits being .beveled 0H substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

16. An vautomatic stoker comprising a magazine, in which the fuel is fed len thwise of the magazine, fusi-feedingy mec anism therein, side air-conduits at intervals leading upward along tine magazine sides from the 17. An automatic stoker comprising a aving a fuel-pushingface whicho erfloor of the magazine and terminating near IOO IOS

'iro

magazine, fuel-feeding mechanismtherein,

lcombined uptakes and air-conduits leading terminating within the body of the fuel passing throng the ma azine, and side air-conduits leading from t e Hoor of the magazine upward to points near the top of the magazine, the discharge ends of they side conduits ein arranged between or alternately with the discharge ends of the combined uptakes and air-conduits, substantially as described.. 18. An y`automatic stoker comprising a from the floor ofthe magazine upward and magazine, Jfuel-feeding Jmechanism therein, ln testimony whereof l ailix lmy signature hollow cap-rails extending along the top of in presence of two Witnesses. the magazine and provided with air-ports, JOHN PARKER LUCKETT side air-conduits leading upward from the 5 bottom of the magazine to points near lche YVitnesses:

top thereof, and inclined grates covering the l GEO. E. TAYLOR, upper ends of the side air-conduits. ll EDWARD S. ADAMS. 

